waiting for my body that will never sin.

I've entitled this message, Rewards. Four times this word is used in this section. Verse one, take heed that you do not your alms. My marginal reading says your righteousnesses or your righteous acts before men to be seen of them, otherwise you have no reward of your father, which is in heaven. Then when he talks about the actual doing of alms, helping people, therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

Verse five, and when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

Verse 16. Moreover, when you fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they disfigure the faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Look in verse 18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy father, which seeth in secret, and thy father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Rewards. Now, first, what's a reward? A reward is dues paid for work done. It's not a gift that you're just given freely. If you do something, you're given a reward for it. It's wages earned, recompense. That's what a reward is. In Matthew chapter 20, verse eight, call the laborers in to give them their hire. Give them their pay. Give them what they have in fact actually earned. That's what a reward is. And when the Lord opens this section, I don't know what else to call it in Matthew chapter six. He says, take heed that you do not your alms, your righteous deeds for men. for them to see it and be impressed. If that's what you do, well, you have your reward, if that's what you're hanging at. And he divided, as we saw last week, three different ways, your attitude toward others, your attitude towards the Lord, and your attitude toward yourself.

Verse two. Therefore when thou doest sign alms, this is our attitude and our actions towards others, do not sound a trumpet before thee. I love the way the Lord says that. Don't broadcast it with the idea that everybody will hear it, see it. Don't sound the trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, they have their reward. They're getting what they're wanting. Men are impressed. I'm impressed. God's not, but men are. He says, when you do your alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret. And thy father would seeth in secret himself. shall reward thee openly.

And when you pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward, praying so men can see. Now we've all seen people praying in restaurants where men can see. And maybe when they're doing it, they're wanting to prove to people that they love God, that they're believers. Maybe they're wanting to make a statement about that.

But I think it's interesting that Servers in the food industry will tell you that the worst crowd to wait on is the Sunday morning after church crowd. They give the smallest tips. And Henry Mahan tells a story. I just heard this a couple of weeks ago. I thought this was really good. He said somebody wanted to pray in the restaurant. He said, Let's don't do that. The Lord said, just pray in your closet. You don't need to be showing men. And he said, well, how will they know we're Christians? He said, they'll figure it out by how you tip. I thought that was kind of interesting and a lot of truth to that.

But although your tipping doesn't prove you're a Christian, I realize that. But it was still an interesting thing to say. Let's pray so everybody can see. We'll prove. that we're Christians. We'll prove that we're courageous. We'll pray in front of anybody. We're trying to prove something. Well, the Lord says, don't do that. When you pray, enter into your closet and shut thy door so nobody sees. And pray to thy father, which is in secret. And thy father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Then in verse 16, I know this is the third time I'm reading these verses, but I want us to see what the Lord is saying. Moreover, when you fast, he doesn't say if you fast, when you fast. And fasting represents self-denial. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. There's so many questions about fasting in our day, and it's even a diet now, a way to lose weight. That's not what the Lord's talking about. He's talking about self-denial. When you fast, you deny yourself.

When you fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance. And you can picture the look on their face. They're far too humble to tell you they're fasting for the most part, but you're gonna find out about it somehow. They'll disfigure their faces so you'll know they're fasting. When you fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. There's that word again. They have their reward. That's what they were looking for, they get it. What kind of payment is that?

But when thou fastest, anoint thine head, wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy father. which is in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. All of these three examples, these people were doing what they were doing for the praise of men, to impress men, that men might be impressed with their religious activity. The Lord said in John chapter five, verse 44, how can you believe which receive honor of one another, and seek not that honor that cometh from God only." Faith is impossible for the one who's seeking praise from men, and not from God, because he's more concerned about what man sees than what God sees.

Have you and I ever seen that what God sees is all that matters. Now, I want you to think well of me. I really do. I don't want to offend you. I want you to think well of me. But if the Lord, if I have his approval, it's all right if I don't have anybody else's approval, isn't it? I believe it really feels that way. And if I have everybody's approval, But the Lord's, I'm in trouble. The only one who we crave his approval is the Lord himself. You see what man sees just didn't reel in the first place.

I love the hymn, Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise. Thou mine inheritance, now and always." What man sees means nothing because man does not see things as they really are, but God does. The Lord seeth not as man seeth. Man looketh on the outward appearance. The Lord looketh on the heart. And you know, I find that comforting. The Lord looketh on the heart. Only the Lord sees things as they really are. What he sees is. You and I don't really see things as they really are. We don't, but he does. And what he sees is.

To do what we do to be seen of men is foolish. What's more important, the praise of men or the praise of God? What's more important to you? The praise of men or the praise of God?

Scripture in Romans 2, 28 and 29, for he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which is circumcision in the flesh, but he's a Jew, which is one inwardly, whose circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The circumcision of the heart is his work, and God praises that one that he's done this work in. Aren't you interested in this? To have the praise, to have the approval of God. Men can only see what's on the outside, but only God can see what's in the inside, and this is his work. Men don't praise men for this, but God does.

You see, every believer, listen to this. I quote the scripture all the time. I hope maybe somebody will hear it like you've heard it for the first time ever. Every believer is holy, unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight. Right now, if I'm in Christ, when God looks at me, he sees one who is holy, unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight.

And if I am holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight, it's because I am in fact holy. and unblameable and unreprovable. It's not just as if I was wholly unblameable and unreprovable and God treats me just as if I was, I am wholly and unblameable and unreprovable in the very sight of God.

How can that be? Because of what the previous verses say. Colossians 1.20 says, having made peace, by the blood of His cross. Now here's what the blood of His cross has done. Having made peace by the blood of His cross by Him to reconcile all things to Himself. That's everything. Having made peace by the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things for himself, by him I say whether they be things on earth or things in heaven, you that were before times enemies, aliens in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh.

That's what was going on on the cross. To present you holy and unblameable. and unreprovable in His sight. Bathe in the reality of that. You're holy in His sight. You're unblameable in His sight. You're unreprovable in His sight.

Revelation 14, four and five, these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile. and they are without fault before the throne of God.

The Lord says in verse three, when you do your alms, be secretive. Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret and that thy father which seeth in secret, he'll reward thee openly." The same thing is said with regard to prayer. The same thing is said with regard to fasting. He will reward thee openly.

Now, question. Does that mean that men will see your Father's favor toward you? It'll be done in such an obvious way that all men will know it. Well, I can give you one example where that wasn't the case. Lazarus the beggar. Sitting at the door of the rich man covered in sores. No one would have thought he's blessed of the Lord. No one would have thought he has the favor of God. And the rich man who fared sumptuously in fine linen, he's blessed. You can see it, can you? Who was blessed of God? You couldn't see it in Lazarus's case. And as far as I can tell, this is not about the Lord rewarding you in such a way as everybody's going to know it. Oh, he's blessed of God, obviously. Blessed with health, blessed with wealth, blessed with all kinds of good things. Let me ask you a question. Do you care? Do you care if the Father blesses you if no one sees it or knows about it, as long as he does it. I don't. That's not even an issue. You see, you really only care about what he sees. What man sees is of no consequence. You care about what he sees.

Now, what is this thing about being rewarded? He says, your father will reward you openly. What is this thing about being rewarded? This is being paid your dues. It's what you have earned. The word is also translated, pay me that thou owest. Render to me what you owe me, recompense me, requite me, restore me. You earn this reward. That's what this reward is about, about what you actually earn, what is owed to you.

Now, before we go on, is this what the Bible actually teaches? God's giving us what we've earned? Well, let's look in the scripture, Matthew 16. Verse 27, for the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man," how? According to his works. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive, what? The things done in his body according that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Now that's what I'm going to receive. That's what you're gonna receive. The things that you've done in your body, according to whether it's good or according to whether it's bad. Turn to Revelation 22. You know, if you don't understand the gospel, this would be bad news, wouldn't it? If you understand the gospel, it's good news. Revelation 22, verse 12, and behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me. to give every man according as his work shall be. You and I will be recorded according to our works, according to the things done in our body, whether good or bad. That's what the Bible says.

Now, the fact of the matter is there have been many and countless numbers of things done in my body that are bad. And in my consciousness, even the good things are bad. I mean everything. I've never done anything with a pure motive. I've never done anything with a, that's just the facts. When I think of, if I would receive the things done in my body, The thoughts, the actions, whatever you want to call it, the bad stuff, the good stuff, it's all bad. I love what Charles Spurgeon said. He said, if I look at my good works and my bad works, I can't tell the difference between the two. And the only thing I can do is bundle them all up and throw them overboard and come into heaven on the plank of free grace. I love that. Me too, Mr. Spurgeon. I understand that.

Paul said, when I would do good, evil is present with me. I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. So how is it that I can be rewarded as good? How can it be that the things done in my body I will be rewarded for as good? in my conscience. I know they're not. How can that be real? How can that be true? Well, I wanna look at a few scriptures. Turn to Romans chapter five. He's going to reward us exactly according to our works. Verse 20. Moreover, the law entered, that the offense might abound. Not that the offense might be restrained, but that the offense might abound, overflow, bubble out. If I see the law for what it really is, all I'm going to see with me is that the offense abounds. Now, someone who doesn't see that, looking at God's holy law, and if they don't see that the offense abounds in me, they've never seen. They've never seen the meaning of the law. They've never seen the character of God. They've never seen themselves, but all God's people do.

The law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, everywhere where sin abounds, Grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, what can you do to stop death? Absolutely nothing. That puts a finality to that, doesn't it? that as sin hath reigned unto death, in the same way, even so, grace reigns through righteousness. This is righteous grace. This is not unclean grace. This is not unholy grace. This is righteous grace unto eternal life by Jesus Christ, our Lord.

When we're dealing with the works of almsgiving, charity, works of devotion, works of self-denial, we can't view this separate from the gospel. How God can be just and justify the ungodly. That's got to be in our heart, soul, and mind at all times.

Turn to Romans chapter two. God rewards us and gives us exactly what we deserve, what his righteous character demands, what his law demands. Now, Romans chapter two, verse five. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart You treasure up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. And here it is, who will render to every man according to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life. But unto them which are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil. Of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile, but glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good. To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, for there's no respect of persons.

Now, he talked about the Jews and the Gentiles. What about these Gentiles? Verse 29 in Romans chapter one. Well, before I read that, Romans 3, 9. What then? Are we better than they? No, and no wise? We before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they're all under sin. Now let's talk about these Gentiles for just this scripture. Here they're described, verse 29, being filled. With all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whispers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, Inventors of evil things. Disobedient to parents. Without understanding. Covenant breakers. Without natural affection. Implacable. Unmerciful. Who, knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but they have pleasure in them that do them.

Now I have a question. Are these people bad? These people are evil. Verse 1. Chapter two. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. You make a judgment with regard to these people? Sure you do. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest, For wherein thou judgest another, you condemn yourself, for you that judge do the same things. Do you believe that about yourself? But we're sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou, O man, that judges them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou should escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

So there's the Gentiles. What about the Jews? Verse 17 of chapter two, behold, thou are called a Jew. And restest in the law, you make your boast of God, you know his will, approves the things which are more excellent, being instructed out of the law. You're confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which has the form of knowledge and of the truth of the law.

Thou, therefore, which teachest to another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest to man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that say'st a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhor'st idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking the law, dost thou dishonor God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it's written, for circumcision verily profits, being a Jew, if you keep the law, But if you're a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

" Now he's talked about the Jews and the Gentiles. And I love the way he says in verse nine, are we Jews better than the Gentiles? No, in no wise. For we have before proved, both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin, as it's written. There's none righteous, no, not one. There's none that understands. There's none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good, no, not one.

Now, how is God gonna look at somebody like that? and say, I'm gonna reward you according to your deeds, and they're all good. Everything done in your body is well-pleasing and acceptable to me. Well, look in verse 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now The righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. This is what the Old Testament has always taught. Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there's no difference. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified. freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His mercy for the remission of sins, to declare His grace for the remission of sins.

No, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say at this time, his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Now, how did this happen? Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The sins of his people were transferred to him, my sins. He bore in his own body on the tree. God can do that. He can take my sin and lift it from me and place my sins in his son so that his son becomes guilty of the commission of those sins. Now you and I know that he never sinned in and of himself. but He took my sins and my sorrows and He made them His very own. He was punished for them and put them away. I love the scripture in 1 John 3, 5, He was manifested to take away our sins. In Him is no sin. If I'm in Him, I have no sin. And not only do I have no sin, just as truly as my sin became His, The deeds done in his body, the works done in his body become mine so that all of my deeds are good, righteous, holy, true. It's what the Bible calls justification so that God rewards me and gives me what I deserve.

To this extent, there will be a public declaration to all of creation, who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect, it is God that justifies. Now when God has done this for a man or woman, it comes out in the works. And here's where it's seen. Motive. You either do what you do to be seen of men, or you do what you do secretly before him. Motive is the difference.

Works of charity, your alms, your left hand is to not know what your right hand's doing. You do it in secret before your Father, and He which sees in secret will reward thee openly, and you'll deserve that reward because you have perfection in your body because of the gospel. When you pray, you're not praying to try to impress men. You want the Lord to hear you. You want to be heard by the Lord, and you come only in Christ's name, and you come as a worshiper, our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. You're not trying to let everybody know how pious and religious and devoted you are. You're praying to your father, which is in heaven. And he sees in secret and he rewards thee openly

when you fast. Works of self-denial. You're not trying to let everybody know about it. Disfiguring your face. but it's done in secret, and your father will reward you openly. And what is that reward? Money? Health? Success? Happiness? Prosperity? Well, you may or may not have those things, but that has nothing to do with the reward. What did the Lord say to Abraham? Fear not, Abraham. I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." There's the reward of the believer. What could be better than that? I am my beloved's. and he is mine.

Let's pray. Lord, we stand amazed that your gospel makes us worthy of your reward. And Lord, we confess Jesus Christ, your blessed son, is all in our salvation. And we look nowhere else and how thankful we are. Lord, cause us to never do our works to be seen of men, but to do them in secrecy before thee. And Lord, we ask that by your grace, we would get the reward purchased by your son for his sake. Bless this word for our good and your glory. In Christ's name we pray, amen.

Matt, you got a closing?

290, be still my soul.